Chinese Aquatic Firefly vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chinese Aquatic Firefly | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aquatica ficta | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Erebidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | China | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Chinese Aquatic Firefly
A firefly with fully aquatic larvae found in streams across southern China. It was the first species placed in the genus Aquatica, erected specifically for water-dwelling lampyrids.
Did You Know?
Larvae breathe underwater using specialized tracheal gills unique among fireflies.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.